CITY COLLEGE–“I couldn’t keep living paycheck to paycheck with no safety net,” Marcus Taylor said. The former full-time delivery worker quit his job because he could not earn enough money and he is not alone.
In New York, many people search for ways to make easy money, and in this ever-churning search, tens of thousands have turned to app-based jobs. Mayor Eric Adams’ administration estimates that there were 60,000 app-based delivery workers in New York City in 2024. Nationwide, 62% of U.S. adults have participated in some form of gig work, and a growing number of them rely on apps as a primary income instead of a side job, according to TransUnion research.
Some of those workers may look for a side hustle. Others need a stepping stone to the next job. And still, others must have a full-time grind. App-based jobs seem attractive because they offer the promise of flexible hours and independence. But the line between freedom and instability is blurred.
For six years, Marcus Taylor biked through Harlem and uptown Manhattan delivering meals for Uber Eats, Grubhub, and Amazon Flex. When he began in 2018, the money was better than retail. But after years of chasing down bonuses, racking up repair bills, and taking sick days without paid sick leave, he left the gig world behind. Today he works as a warehouse associate for a grocery delivery company with a set paycheck and benefits.
